Need a camp axe- what's good and what's not?

My choice would be a 3/4 size single bit or a Hudson's Bay model, from any reputable maker. My current favorite is a (former West) German-made Iltis with a rather heavy and wide blade that takes a razor edge. Rings like a bell. Works great for chopping and splitting wood, bone, brisket, etc. One warning though: hatchets and short axes are short enough that a miss or ricochet is more likely to do you some personal damage. A longer ax is safer. Just keep something substantial between you and the edge.

[This message has been edited by Alberta Ed (edited 20 November 1999).]
 
I'll put in another vote for the Marbles axe. I got one about two months ago, talk about wicked sharp. It's got a nice convex grind just like all Marbles knifes. I haven't had to sharpen it yet, but if it's like any of the other Marbles knives it sharpens nice. Did I mention it was sharp? Things bit me more that my other knives. I recently took this on a trip to the woods of Northern Michigan and it made short work of any task I used it for. After the trip I could still shave with it. I'd say it's a good representation of the Marbles line.

Take care,
Tom
 
Hi 38Super, I just saw a "survival episode" from Ray(mond) Mears on BBC2 and this eopisode was filmed in Sweden and he's a guy that doesn't waste his money on gadgets and does not invest heaps of money if he can get something that does the job and he can depend his life on.
In this episode he had a small campers axe (700-1000 grams) made by Gransfors in Sweden. They forge this axe absolutely by hand and it is just an axe without any extra's colours etc just a masterpiece of simplicity you can depend your life on. Mears had it so sharp he cut a A4 piece of copy paper in two that he had free hanging holding it between his fingers.

Go take a look at the Gransfors site: www.gransfors.com They even have it in English.

Keep sharp, Bagheera

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Aaargh! The phones have been put all day and just started working again. Thanks Bagheera and everyone else for the many choices. I have checked all of them and am narrowing the selection. Right now I have a 26" Collins single bit that I think is great but want something smaller-somewhere around 16" and 1lb. At the moment I can't get into kukuris, save them for a future time. I have come to realize I want a wood handle.(scratch the Estwing) I guess I like the traditional look and the Marbles and Granfors are at the top of the list. Pointing poles, pounding in tent stakes, kindling around the fire and the chance meeting with an offensive twig would be its calling. I didn't expect this many responses-thanks one and all.
The catalog is on the way.
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[This message has been edited by 38super (edited 21 November 1999).]
 
38super - seems that you have made at least some choices already. But I'd like to give a little input on the Gerber axes for anybody else who is going to look in here. ... actually I'm just going to say that they are about the best there are (although if you really have to have wooden handle?), and for more information, please see this old thread.
BTW, Marion David Poff, Gerber axes are Scandinavian... they are really Fiskars that are marketed as Gerbers in the USA (in Finland there are quite few more models available than what I've seen on Gerber's web-site.)

Hugo.
 
Thanks Hugo! I have gotten alot of really great ideas and want everyone to know I checked all of them out. I'm glad you turned me on to the old thread. I wanted specific feedback on the Gerbers, particularly on the larger two. I knew the head/handle was guaranteed for life so no problem there. And they just looked like they had good feel and balance. This close to X-mas I better put the Marbles and Gerbers on my wish list and see what Santa brings.

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Has anyone tried splitting small logs for kindling with the Gerbers by hitting on the back of it with a piece of wood or the back of another tool or tried using the back for a hammer? With the way the handle is bonded to the blade I am wondering how well they would hold up.
 
I have a cheap(less than $4.00)Chinese hatchet that I love. It is shaped like a Hudson bay axe with vestigial cheeks. Sharpens easily to a keen edge and Holds it! Blade a little on the hard side, definitly not to be abused. You can do surprisingly small and precise wood work with it if you choke up on it. I've seen zilions of cheap Chinese camp hatchets shaped like clunky minature felling axes, Mine is only one I've ever seen this Hudson Bay shape.
 
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